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You haven’t seen that elusive yellow orb in the sky since winter solstice. You arrive at work to find the coffee as cold and bitter as Elsa from Frozen. (Marc’s eldest daughter, age three, loves the movie. We bet you’ve seen it enough, too.)

You surf social media for a respite from the morning misery. A photo of Beyoncé and Jay Z frolicking on a beckoning beach pops up in your Facebook feed.

That’s it. You’ve got a travel agent on speed dial. Epic numbers of us swarm south this time of year. And the activist in us likes to encourage people not to abandon their instinct to “do good” along with their winter coats when seeking a sunny escape.

By making socially conscious choices, we all become altruistic tourists who connect with people from a different culture, leave the communities we stay in with a sense of Canadian compassion, and come back with more than a sun tan — perhaps a renewed sense of purpose.

Here are a few simple (we promise!) ways to bring meaning to your beach vacation.

Start with Where You Stay

Go local to get a real flavour for the culture you’re in. Look online for small family-run hotels or homestays with families, or check out Airbnb, an online community that features rooms and whole homes for rent by locals. With this approach, you’re more likely to see how ordinary citizens live in what we consider paradise. At the same time, you help support an individual or family.

If you’ve booked an all-inclusive vacation, ask about walking or bus tours on which you can explore a nearby village. If your heart is set on a cruise, perhaps dig into the line’s practices before you book. Some companies, for example, have committed to not dumping their waste in waterways that need our protection.

Pack Your Philanthropy

Find out what you can take to donate. Many countries, such as Cuba and Honduras, are short on health and medical essentials, including vitamins and common pain medications.

Check out Not Just Tourists online (njt-pqt.org). The Canadian non-profit collects new medical supplies, such as surgical gloves, bandages and over-the-counter medications, from Canadian health-care centres and individual donors, and then sends them overseas with travellers. You could be their next volunteer.

Or fly with an airline like WestJet that allows passengers to check in one piece of extra luggage free of charge when it’s for humanitarian purposes.

Think Locally

We like to support mom and pop restaurants and shops instead of chains and hotel gift stores, and enjoy striking up conversations with the people who change our bedding and clear our table. We’ve found they often share insight about their community, their country and their dreams that enrich our experience.

One of our staffers got to know a housekeeper in Costa Rica. At the end of the trip, they exchanged addresses and years later still share cards throughout the year.

Go Green

We aren’t referring to lime margaritas, but the eco footprint you leave behind. A TripAdvisor survey found that 79 per cent of travellers say it’s important their accommodations have green practices, which you can ask about before you book.

When it comes to sea life, conservation groups are working hard to raise awareness about majestic coral reefs that need protection for future generations to enjoy. They recommend that people in the water be careful not to touch or drag their feet or flippers over coral because it is easily damaged.

Similarly, we’ve learned that shells are best left in the ocean and on the beach to preserve coastal ecosystems. And when it comes to jewelry, organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund recommend we all take a pass on those cute shell and coral trinkets.

In doing so, we are taking a stand for the local environment.

Bon voyage!

Brothers Craig and Marc Kielburger founded a platform for social change that includes the international charity Free The Children, the social enterprise Me to We and the youth empowerment movement We Day.

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